Town Square

Is the planning department really that scary?

Original post made
by Rethinking remodeling, Woodside: Woodside Glens,
on Feb 2, 2007

We just moved to Woodside and we're thinking of redoing the kitchen, and maybe bumping out a wall.

We've heard it's really expensive and difficult to get permission for building projects.

Then, our realtor told us things are much easier, and that the planning department is friendlier than it used to be. Is that true? We've never done a building project before and we're afraid of getting in over our heads.

Posted by nohope
a resident of Woodside: Woodside Glens
on Feb 4, 2007 at 8:36 pm

If you value your sanity (and pocketbook) do your interior upgrades first. Once you try to enlarge/change your exterior you will enter the black hole of the Planning Director Hope Sullivan micro management machine. No wonder the town has to beg for applicants to the ASRB and Planning Commission. Nobody wants to challenge her and the inane staff that the county grand jury rightly castigated over a year ago for its confusing, contadictory interpretration of rules/regulations. Just ask around and you will learn how to manipulate the staff to get what you need, rather than the other way around. Sounds bizarre but welcome to Woodside planning.